The Communicative Linguistic Landscape

This book explores how linguistic landscapes convey meaning, focusing on the disconnect between sign creators and their physical presence. It examines disruptions to signs and integrates concepts from Goffman and Bakhtin.

The Communicative Linguistic Landscape explores the ways in which linguistic landscapes convey meaning and the theoretical implications of these communications. It begins with the premise that the individuals or organizations responsible for creating signs may not be physically present in the landscape where those signs are displayed. This sets the stage for a deeper inquiry into how these landscapes function as sites of communication.

The author draws on Erving Goffman’s concept of production formats to argue that the design and placement of signs within a landscape form what is termed an animator complex. This complex highlights the relationship between the sign and its intended location, suggesting that any disruption—such as vandalism or changes in the organization represented—can impact the sign's meaning and effectiveness. The book identifies various disruptions that can affect the integrity of the animator complex and discusses the implications of these disruptions for understanding concepts like affect, multivocality, and the materiality of language.

Additionally, the book integrates Mikhail Bakhtin’s theories on heteroglossia and dialogicity, enriching the discussion around communication within linguistic landscapes. By combining Goffman's and Bakhtin's ideas, the author offers a comprehensive framework for analyzing how signs operate within their environments, emphasizing the dynamic nature of communication and the multiple voices that contribute to the meaning of a linguistic landscape. Overall, this work provides valuable insights into the complexities of language and communication in public spaces.